Game 35: Pre-Game Notes (Garcia Starting Tomorrow, Hovis To Tampa)

RYAN POPE: “I don’t know, I just do what they tell me. I wish I could tell you, but I have no idea what the heck is going on. The arm’s fine, I’m healthy as can be.”

“Nothing changes during the week, you still prepare like you’re going to pitch. It’s not like I’m going to prepare any different. I still feel as good as I did last week.”

“As long as I pitch, I don’t care what I do. I’m not going to be a guy who cares whether they start or relieve, I just want to pitch.”

TONY FRANKLIN: “(Garcia’s) had a few injuries, but hopefully he’s healthy and sound and ready to go.”

“I think they’d stretched him out, but 80 pitches, that’s a lot of pitches. We’ll see if he can make them in short order.”

“Unfortunately, (Pope’s) been pushed back. Someone had to, and unfortunately it was Popey. We’re going to try to keep him on track and keep him going. It isn’t easy to skip them, because they all want to be out there every five days.”

“(Horne) threw on the side today. He’s experiencing no ill effects. He’s fine, he’s doing OK. We’re being cautious with him, and I think we should be. He’s coming off some arm surgery, and you don’t want to rush him back.”

5:45 PM — Geez, lots of stuff going on…Jonathan Hovis was sent to Tampa to make room for Garcia. According to Nardi Contreras, Garcia can go about 80 pitches.

Ryan Pope is not listed on the posted rotation and told me he has no idea what’s going on, and that he’ll do what they tell him to do. He said he’s fine, physically.

Alan Horne and Amaury Sanit are both close to being activated…apparently, a move will be made tomorrow to accomodate one of them.

3:55 PM — Christian Garcia is here and will be starting tomorrow…just briefly spoke to him by the dugout. Also, Nardi Contreras is here. Stay tuned…

3:40 PM — Ryan Pope hasn’t pitched since that gem at home on the 13th. This would already be six days rest…what’s the deal with Pope and his rest this year?

3:35 PM — And, for the record, the “don’t worry, it’ll get fixed” window in the press box remains spiderwebbed.

3:20 PM — There’s some buzz in the comments as to why Ryan Pope isn’t starting or listed in the upcoming rotation. All good questions, people. No idea as to why as of yet. But I’ll find out when I get in the clubhouse at 5:15.

Also, Hector Rondon (woo-hoo!) is set to pitch for Akron Wednesday…Josh Tomlin’s going today and Jeanmar Gomez on Thursday.

[…] Mike Ashmore says Chris Garcia will start for Double-A Trenton tomorrow with an 80-pitch or so limit. I’m setting the over/under on the number of starts he makes before coming down with another injury at 6.5. […]